Shotgun wad



W. J. LARSON Jan. 7, 1930.

SHO'IGUN WAD Filed March 3, 1928 g-wucnfoc il (i llenl 51113019 Patented Jan. 7, 1930 PA ENT OFFICE.

WALTER J. LARSON, OF WRANGELL, TERRITORY OF ALASKA SHOTGUN WAD Application filed March 3, 1928. Serial No. 258,826.

This invention relates to an improved type of shot gun shell wad designed to maintain shot within the shell in a particular manner whereby compression or mutilation of' the shot as they pass through the choke of a shot gun barrel, is prevented.

In the method at present employed for arranging shot in a shot gun shell, the shot are all closely packed. When the shell is exploded and the charge of shot discharged into the barrel of the gun they pass through the barrel in close or compact formation and when the choke of the barrel is reached a further compression or more compact formation must be assumed which results in the mashing and mutilation of the shot and in addition causes them to scatter as a result of this compression more than would be the case if they left the barrel under a slight compression only.

The present invention contemplates the provision of an improved form of wad having the outer face thereof provided with depressions into each of which one shot of the first layer of the shot charge is positioned. This formation of the wad maintains the shot of the first layer of the charge in spaced relation so that as subsequent layers of the shot charge are placed on the first layer they will all assume positions free from Contact with one another. As the wad follows the discharge of shot through the gun barrel this formation of the layers of shot is maintained until the choke of the barrel is reached Whereupon the spaces existing between the shot of each layer are closed by the compression exerted upon the entire charge by the choke of the barrel and the shot passes therethrough to in close formation but unrnutilated.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the pres- 5 ent specification, with the understanding however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark 9 o ma erial departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a shot gun shell partly in longitudinal section, showing the wad embodying the present invention in position therein and the manner in which the charge of shot is held by this wad.

Figure 2 is a section through the wad embodying the present invention.

Figure 3 is a face view of the wad showing the shot receiving depressions.

Figure 4 is a -view of the rear face of the wad showing the manner in which each wad is marked to indicate the size shot with which it is to be used.

Figure 5 is a section taken through the muzzle end of a gun barrel showing the position assumed by the shot when passing through the choke.

Referring now to the drawing in detail wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, the numeral 1 indicates generally the body of a shell of the type used in shot guns, showing the usual powder charge 2 therein with the felt wads 3 arranged forwardly of the powder charge and intermediate the ends of the shell body.

The wad embodying the present invention is indicated by the numeral 1 and is preferably formed of relatively thick cardboard in the face 5 of which a number of recesses or pockets 6 is formed. These pockets or depressions are preferablyrelatively shallow or in other words cover less than half of the area of the shot positioned therein. As shown in Figure 1 a layer of shot 7 when placed in position in the shell, each in one of of the pockets or recesses 6, is arranged with the shot free from contact one with the other and consequently the shot 8 making up the other layers of the charge when arranged upon the first layer of shot 7 are also free from one another. The usual disc 9 is placed in the open end of the shell to maintain the shot and the powder charge in position, the end of the shell turned in or crimped as at 10, in the usual manner.

In Figure 5 there is shown in longitudinal section the forward end. of a shot gun barrel,

which is indicated by the numeral 11 and as shown that portion of the barrel lying forwardly of the point 12 decreases slightly in 7 diameter to the end of the barrel thus formingthe portion known as the choke. The

charge of shot preceded by the disc 10 and followedby the special wad 4 and the ordinary wads 3 is shown in the barrel free of the shell with the body of shot entering the choke.

' 10 As shown by the two rows of shot nearest the Wad 4, the shot maintain their spaced relationthroughout the passage through the barrel 11 but upon reaching the choke and passing thereinto'are pressed closely together in 15 the manner shown by the position of the shot in the forward portion of the charge.

In passing through the 'choke of the gun barrel the charge of shot is compressed or so altered that they leave the barrel with the members of each'layer in contacting relation instead of spaced relation in which they are arranged in the shell. This compression while permitting the shot to be massed closely together does not cause them to be flattenedor otherwise mutilated as is the case in the usual charge of shot after it has passed through the choke of the barrel. Shot maintained in position in the barrel by the. wad embodying the present invention will leave 80 the barrel inrelatively close contact and besides being of proper shape do not scatter so much as the charges ordinarily used wherein the shot starts from the shell in compact relation and pass through the choke and leave the barrel of the gun mashed closely together under great pressure. The sudden release of this pressure on the shot causes them to I scatter violently thus destroying or greatly enlarging the pattern of the charge.

- to In order to expedite the handling of the wads'the backs thereof may be provided with suitable numerals or other symbols to indicate the size shot for which they are intended. As for example, as shown n Figure 4, the numeral 8 is pressed upon the back of the wad indicating that this wad is intended to be used with number 8 shot.

Having-thus described my invention what I claim is: 1. A shot gun shell wad wherein one face thereof is provided with a series of depressions designed to receive the shot of one layer of a charge to maintain the same in spaced relation.

7 2. A shot gun wad of the character described, comprising a disc like body'of rela-' tively heavy material havin one face thereof provided with a lurahtyof relatively shallow de ressions dgsigned to receive and v maintain t e individual members'of a layer v of shot constituting a portion of shell charge,

in spaced relation.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WALTER J. LARSON. 

